Travelling crane

ABSTRACT

A travelling crane having a slewing superstructure which carries a telescopic jib and, to one side of the jib, a driver&#39;&#39;s cabin and a craneman&#39;&#39;s cabin.

United States Patent Eiler et al.

Oct. 30, 1973 TRAVELLING CRANE Inventors: Peter Eiler, Langenfeld; Hans Weiskopf, Hilden, both of Germany Assignee: Leo Gottwald K. G. Reisholzer,

Werftstrasse, Dusseldorf, Germany Filed: July 21, 1970 Appl. No.: 56,884

Foreign Application Priority Data July 23, 1969 Germany P 19 37 349.0

US. Cl. 212/38, 180/77 R, 212/144 Int. Cl. B66c 23/36 Field of Search 212/38, 55, 59, 144,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1969 Stauffer 212/55 3,300,069 1/1967 Kline 212/55 X 2,761,569 9/1956 lserman 180/77 X 2,781,134 2/1957 Weir et al. 212/38 2,631,737 3/1953 Cullen 180/77 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,489,224 7/1967 France 212/144 513,349 8/1952 Belgium 822,256 10/1959 Great Britain 212/55 1,403,011 11/1965 France 212/49 563,501 10/1932 Germany 212/49 402,344 11/1933 Great Britain 212/49 Primary ExaminerHarvey C. Hornsby Assistant ExaminerMerle F. Maffei AttorneyMcGlew and Toren [57] ABSTRACT A travelling crane having a slewing superstructure which carries a telescopic jib and, to one side of the jib, a drivers cabin and a cranemans cabin.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDOBIIiO 1973 3.768.665

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Z/Q X W v ATFo'R E-VS TRAVELLING CRANE The invention relates to mobile cranes with a jib forming part of a superstructure mounted on a chassis through a turntable, and with a drivers cabin for the driver of the vehicle and a cranemans cabin for the crane operator.

In known mobile cranes of this kind the drivers cabin is mounted on the chassis of the vehicle whereas the cranemans cabin is mounted as part of the superstructure. This conventional arrangement, involving separate cabins, the one mounted on the chassis and the other on the superstructure, does not allow the centre of gravity of the superstructure to be positioned midway between the front and rear support beams. On the contrary, the axis of rotation of the superstructure has to be positioned as far away as possible from the drivers cabin to allow a full freedom of rotation for the superstructure. On the other hand it is desirable to position the centre of gravity of the superstructure as centrally as possible, particularly in mobile revolving cranes with telescopic jibs, to allow the crane to lift heavy loads, both when supported by its support beams and when it is supported entirely by its wheels.

The object of the present invention is to provide a mobile crane, particularly but not necessarily with a telescopic jib, of the kind mentioned at the beginning, in which the centre of gravity of the superstructure is positioned as centrally as possible, without this involving any considerable extra cost of construction, the resulting vehicle being simple to operate.

This problem is solved according to the invention in that both the drivers cabin and the cranemans cabin form part of the superstructure.

This arrangement allows the centre of gravity of the superstructure to be located almost midway between the two support beams of the chassis. A further advantage is that the jib can be mounted at the beam height as the cabins, with the result that the entire vehicle is comparatively low. The vehicle is unusually stable and is capable of lifting high loads both when supported by its support boxes and when travelling along. The greatest advantages are obtained by combining the drivers cabin with the cranemans cabin so as to form a single unit, that is to say a double cabin, the drivers cabin facing away from the direction in which the jib extends structure. This brings the jib head closer to the back wheels of the vehicle, making it much easier to handle loads when the vehicle is supported entirely by its wheels and when travelling.

In one preferred construction, the superstructure consists essentially of a shell in which the jib can slide longitudinally, the shell being mounted to pivot in bearings in a frame which is U-shaped in cross section.

For shifting the telescopic jib fore and aft there may be used rams anchored to the frame The pistons of the ram cylinders can for example engage with longitudinally travelling beams which support the counterweight for the jib, the counterweight being connectable by a linkage system to the inner end of the jib. Driving the counterweight forward also shifts the jib forward, improving the stability of the vehicle. When the jib is in its forward position it can still be lifted, although not from the superstructure and the cranemans cabin facing in the direction in which the jib extends from the superstructure. This arrangement reduces the cost of manufacture and gives the driver a particularly good field of view when travelling, without any necessity to swing the jib out of the way.

The known mobile cranes with telescopic jibs also have the disadvantage that when the telescopic jib has been telescoped together it still projects excessively far out beyond the rear of the vehicle when travelling. It is of course, desirable to provide the longest possible jib when extended, and the jib is comparatively long even after it has been telescoped together. But if the jib extends too far out behind the vehicle a heavy load which is being dragged away or transported away applies an excessive backwards tipping movement to the vehicle.

This difficulty is avoided in the present invention by positioning the cabin unit on one side, next to the telescopic jib, and by arranging that the entire telescopic jib, consisting of several telescoping parts, is adjustable in position longitudinally with respect to the super entirely, but enough to lift and support loads while the vehicle is travelling.

The connecting linkage between the counterweight and the inner end of the jib allows either the counterweight or the jib or both to be shifted in position fore and aft.

To give the driver a particularly good field of view when travelling, the drivers cabin can extend across the entire width of the vehicle.

An example of a crane constructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken onjthe line II-ll in FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is a plan.

The illustrated crane has a chassis l with support beams 2 and 3, double rear axles 4 and 5 and a front axle 5. 1

Approximately midway between the two support beams 2 and 3 the chassis 1 supports a turntable 6 on which is mounted a superstructure 7, including a driver's cabin 8, for the driver of the vehicle, and a cranemans cabin 9, for the operator of the crane, the two cabins being constructed as a single unit to form a double cabin assembly 11.

The double cabin 11 is mounted next to a telescopic jib 12 consisting of several telescoping parts 13. On the outer end of the jib 12 there is ajib head 15 equipped with pulley wheels 14.

The telescopic jib 12 is mounted on the turntable 6 by means of a frame 16 which is U-shaped in cross section and supports in its upper part a bearing 17 in which there pivots a shell structure 18. The shell 18 has a cross section suitable for receiving the telescopic jib 12, as shown in particular in FIG. 2. For driving the shell 18 in its pivoting movement it has two ram cylinders 19, one on each side, the lower ends of the ram cylinders 19 being anchored to the framel6. A counterweight 22 is supported by longitudinal beams 23 adjustable in position fore and aft by hydraulic ram cylinders 24 anchored on the frame 16. Connecting links 21 allow the counterweight 22 to be attached to the inner end of the telescopic jib 12.

For luffing the jib the ram cylinders 19 are operated, the shell 18 pivoting in its bearings 17. On the other hand to shift the counterweight 22 fore and aft the ram cylinders 24 are operated. If the counterweight 22 has been coupled to the jib 12 by the connecting linkage 21, the telescopic jib 12 also moves fore and aft with the counterweight 22, so that under these circumstances the ram cylinders 24 can be made to shift the telescopic jib 12 into a forward position as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 1. This alows the telescopic jib 12 to be shifted into a forward psition for example when the chassis is not resting on legs under its support beams. When the jib 12 is in its forward position the jib head 15 is closer to the rear wheels of the vehicle, for

easier lifting of loads. When the jib 12 is in its forward position it can be raised and lowered, and the vehicle can be driven with a load suspended from the jib head.

We claim:

l. A mobile telescoping rotary crane includes a wheel supported longitudinally extending chassis having a front end and a rear end spaced apart in the longitudinal direction thereof, a superstructure mounted on said chassis, means for interconnecting said superstructure and chassis for rotary movement of said superstructure relative to said chassis, a telescopic jib mounted on said superstructure for rotation therewith and having a head end and a base end, a drivers cabin from which the driver of said wheeled chassis operates and controls the movement of said wheeled chassis, a cranemans cabin from which the craneman operates said jib, wherein the improvement comprises that both said drivers cabin and said cranemans cabin are mounted on said superstructure as a single unit for rotation therewith and said drivers cabin faces he front end of said chassis when the crane is being driven and said cranemans cabin faces in the opposite direction to said drivers cabin, said means for interconnecting said superstructure and chassis includes a turntable positioned intermediate the front end and rear end of said chassis for free rotary mobility of said drivers cabin and cranemans cabin unit with said superstructure and said telescopic jib and for reducing the tilting moment due to the position of said turntable interconnecting said superstructure and chassis for rotary movement of said superstructure relative to said chassis, said telescopic jib extending across said turntable with its base end on an opposite side of said turntable from its head end, and means for adjustably positioning said jib in its longitudinal direction relative to said turntable so that its base end and its head end can be displaced correspondingly relative to said turntable.

2. A crane according to claim 1, wherein said single cabin unit is mounted to one side of said jib.

3. A crane according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of said superstructure is not in the vertical longitudinal middle plane of said chassis.

4. A crane according to claim 1, wherein said drivers cabin extends transversely of said supersturcture across the entire width of said chassis.

5. A crane according to claim 1, whrein said means for adjustably positioning said jib are located on said superstructure and comprise a frame of U-shape, and a shell structure in which said telescopic jib is slidably displaceable in the longitudinal direction, said shell being pivotally mounted for luffing said jib in said frame.

6. A crane according to claim 5, wherein faid superstructuer includes longitudinally extending beams which extend in the longitudinal direction of said chassis, rams anchored to said frame and to said longitudinal beams for driving said longitudinal beams in their longitudinal direction, and a counterweight for said jib supported on said longitudinal beam so that said counterweight can be displaced by said rams in the longitudinal direction of said beams.

7. A crane according to claim 6, further compriing a linkage connector adapted to attach said counterweight to said jib.

8. A mobile telescoping rotary crane includes a wheel supported chassis, a superstructure mounted on said chassis, means for interconnecting said superstructure and chassis for rotary movement of said superstructure relative to said chassis, a telescopic jib mounted on said superstructure, a drivers cabin for the driver of said wheeled chassis, a cranemans cabin for the operator of said jib, wherein the improvement comprises that both said drivers cabin and cranemans cabin are mounted on said superstructure for free rotary mobility of said superstructure and for reducing the tilting moment due to the poistion of said means for interconnecting said superstructure and chassis for the rotary movement of said superstructure, means provided for adjusting said jib in position longitudinally with respect to said superstructure, said superstructure comprises a frame of U- shape and a shell structure in which said telescopic jib can slide longitudinally, said shell structure being pivoted for luffing said jib in said frame, pivot means are positioned in the upper part of said frame and said shell structure is mounted to pivot in said bearings, and luffing rams supported on said frame and attached to said shell for driving said shell in its pivoting movements.

* w an n t 

1. A mobile telescoping rotary crane includes a wheel supported longitudinally extending chassis having a front end and a rear end spaced apart in the longitudinal direction thereof, a superstructure mounted on said chassis, means for interconnecting said superstructure and chassis for rotary movement of said superstructure relative to said chassis, a telescopic jib mounted on said superstructure for rotation therewith and having a head end and a base end, a driver''s cabin from which the driver of said wheeled chassis operates and controls the movement of said wheeled chassis, a craneman''s cabin from which the craneman operates said jib, wherein the improvement comprises that both said driver''s cabin and said craneman''s cabin are mounted on said superstructure as a single unit for rotation therewith and said driver''s cabin faces the front end of said chassis when the crane is being driven and said craneman''s cabin faces in the opposite direction to said driver''s cabin, said means for interconnecting said superstructure and chassis includes a turntable positioned intermediate the front end and rear end of said chassis for free rotary mobility of said driver''s cabin and craneman''s cabin unit with said superstructure and said telescopic jib and for reducing the tilting moment due to the position of said turntable interconnecting said superstructure and chassis for rotary movement of said superstructure relative to said chassis, said telescopic jib extending across said turntable with its base end on an opposite side of said turntable from its head end, and means for adjustably positioning said jib in its longitudinal direction relative to said turntable so that its base end and its head end can be displaced correspondingly relative to said turntable.
 2. A crane according to claim 1, wherein said single cabin unit is mounted to one side of said jib.
 3. A crane according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of said superstructure is not in the vertical longitudinal middle plane of said chassis.
 4. A crane according to claim 1, wherein said driver''s cabin extends transversely of said supersturcture across the entire width of said chassis.
 5. A crane according to claim 1, wherein said means for adjustably positioning said jib are located on said superstructure and comprise a frame of U-shape and a shell structure in which said telescopic jib is slidably displaceable in the longitudinal direction, said shell being pivotally mounted for luffing said jib in said frame.
 6. A crane according to claim 5, wherein said superstructure includes longitudinally extending beams which extend in the longitudinal direction of said chassis, rams anchored to said frame and to said longitudinal beams for driving said longitudinal beams in their longitudinal direction, and a counterweight for said jib supported on said longitudinal beams so that said counterweight can be displaced by said rams in the longitudinal direction of said beams.
 7. A crane according to claim 6, further comprising a linkage connector adapted to attach said counterweight to said jib.
 8. A mobile telescoping rotary crane includes a wheel supported chassis, a superstructure mounted on said chassis, means for interconnecting said superstructure and chassis for rotary movement of said superstructure relative to said chassis, a telescopic jib mounted on said superstructure, a driver''s cabin for the driver of said wheeled chassis, a craneman''s cabin for the operator of said jib, wherein the improvement comprises that both said driver''s cabin and craneman''s cabin are mounted on said superstructure For free rotary mobility of said superstructure and for reducing the tilting moment due to the position of said means for interconnecting said superstructure and chassis for the rotary movement of said superstructure, means provided for adjusting said jib in position longitudinally with respect to said superstructure, said superstructure comprises a frame of U-shape and a shell structure in which said telescopic jib can slide longitudinally, said shell structure being pivoted for luffing said jib in said frame, pivot means are positioned in the upper part of said frame and said shell structure is mounted to pivot in said bearings, and luffing rams supported on said frame and attached to said shell for driving said shell in its pivoting movements. 